About $26 million in funding announced for Arkansas projectsLITTLE ROCK — The Delta Regional Authority says nearly $26 million will be invested in Arkansas for projects aimed at driving economic growth and improving infrastructure. The authority announced the funding Monday alongside Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson. The $26 million includes money awarded by the Delta Regional Authority and public and private funding sources. Officials say the projects will create or retain an estimated 650 jobs in the sta...

RHS Band wins Blue Ribbon AwardThe National Band Association (NBA) recently awarded the Russellville High School Cyclone Band the 2016 Programs of Excellence Blue Ribbon Award for the Southwest Division. The Cyclone Band is also a National Finalist for this award. To be considered for this award, a group has to demonstrate excellence in music education over a minimum of a four year time period. The history of the program, judges' critique sheets, recordings, ratings of solo...

Suspect search still onOfficials say the search for a man who attempted to rob the River Town Bank on Union Street in Dardanelle Friday morning continues, with aid from concerned citizens and other law enforcement agencies. Dardanelle Police Chief Montie Sims said the Dardanelle Police Department (DPD) is working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) robbery unit out of Little Rock and the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division in tracking do...

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BY SIERRA MURPHY
murphy@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Planning Commission OKs rezoneAt its November meeting, the Russellville Planning Commission approved the rezoning and expansion of Iglesia Pentecostal Unida Church and passed previously tabled agenda items. The rezoning of the establishment took Iglesia Pentecostal Unida Church from an industrial site to a commercial site, which James Walden, urban planning manager representing Garver (an engineering, planning and environmental service firm) said is better suited for that ...

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BY SIERRA MURPHY
murphy@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

The Arkansas River Valley lost a true purveyor of public opinionThe Arkansas River Valley lost a true purveyor of public opinion with the untimely death of Bill Newsom. Always alert to Local, State, and National events, he carefully balanced each. His favorite was reporting on local concerns. Some times agreeing, and some times disagreeing with local leaders, he was not bashful to put his valuable two cents worth into the discussion. Regardless of others opinions, he did his best to help shape public opini...

Dardanelle Tree LightingTHE COURIER / Patricia Spears The Dardanelle High School band and choir performed at Dardanelle's Tree Lighting Ceremony on Tuesday evening in front of the gazebo on Front Street. Santa Claus was in attendance to hear children's Christmas wishes as they enjoyed hot chocolate and cookies.

Arkansas man pleads guilty in fatal shooting of officerFORT SMITH — An Arkansas man was sentenced to life in prison without parole Tuesday after pleading guilty to capital murder in the fatal shooting of a sheriff's deputy earlier this year. Billy Monroe Jones also pleaded guilty Tuesday to 10 counts of attempted capital murder for opening fire on other law enforcement officers during the August incident in rural western Arkansas. Jones admitted fatally shooting Sebastian County Sheriff's Deputy B...

Obituary: Daniel SpeaksATKINS — Daniel Speaks, 41, of Damascus, passed away Monday, Nov. 28, 2016, at Conway Regional Medical Center. He was born April 8, 1975, in Morrilton, the son of David Speaks and Nila Manns. He was preceded in death by his father, David Speaks; and his grandparents, Bill and Lorretta Speaks and Doc and Maude Bolin; a niece, Whitney Burris; and numerous aunts and uncles. He is survived by his wife, Veronica Speaks; two sons, Daniel Converse an...

Obituary: Cleo SummersCleo Jethero “Jerry” Summers, age 75, of Dover, died Sunday Nov. 27, 2016, at Legacy Heights Nursing and Rehabilitation. He was born May 19, 1941, in Morrilton to Hancle and Cora May Wells Summers. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mary Ann Summers and his aunt, Maxine Egger. Survivors include three daughters, Debbie Smith Hickerson (Terry) of Pine Bluff, Diane Smith Edwards (Roger) of Sherwood, and Kim Leach Edwards; four gra...

Planking for a causeSoul2Soul, a gym and fitness center in Russellville, will host their annual plank challenge which will benefit The Call of Pope County (TCPC). TCPC is a local religious based organization that assists families with foster care and adoption. Nikki Graybill, owner of Soul2Soul, said this is her sixth year to conduct a plank challenge in Russellville. Every year, the proceeds from the challenge are donated to a different charity. The challenge, p...

Johnson County Deputy accused of sexual assaultA Johnson County Deputy was arrested on Monday after allegedly telling a woman he would kill her and arrest her family if she told anyone he had sexually assaulted her. According to a probable cause affidavit, Robert Retford was arrested on Monday after the victim reported he had forced her into various sex acts, including drinking his urine. The victim told investigators she met Retford after he and another officer responded after a neighbor ...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Baby unharmed after being ejected from car in Arkansas crashTEXARKANA— An infant is unharmed after she was thrown into a drainage ditch during a two-vehicle accident near Texarkana. Texarkana police say 8-month-old Bryce Hale was one of five people traveling in a car on Interstate 30 Friday night when a semitrailer hit the vehicle while changing lanes. The vehicle skidded before striking the median's guardrail. Police say Bryce was ejected from the vehicle's back window and landed beneath some metal ba...

Changes planned at Faulkner County jail following escapeCONWAY— Faulkner County Sheriff Matt Rice says changes will be made following the recent escape of an inmate, but have not yet been put in place. Rice told the Log Cabin Democrat (http://bit.ly/2gzfER3 ) that the Nov. 11 escape is still under investigation to determine "exactly what went wrong." Rice said 50-year-old William Chamlee escaped from a recreation yard by going through a hole in the fence and stealing a vehicle. Rice says Chamlee wa...

Dover OKs 'mini-house' legislationDOVER -- The Dover City Council approved the third and final reading of an ordinance amending the zoning code by setting requirements for "mini-houses" to be used as dwellings adjacent to existing structures. The council approved a recommendation by Mayor Pat Johnson that the city retain its present private insurance coverage rather than transferring to a program of the Arkansas Municipal League. Council members suspended the rules to allow al...

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BY STEVE LEAVELL
sleavell@cswnet.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Community people: Rhonda Horton, Micah Mahan and Autumn Hurst.THE COURIER / Submitted Russellville Lion and club secretary Rhonda Horton welcomed Micah Mahan and Autumn Hurst, both with Community Services Inc., who presented a program on how smoking damages a smoker's life and leaves lasting effects on family members. According to recent statistics, one in every 13 children exposed to second hand smoke will die of tobacco-related diseases. Mahan and Hurst visit area schools to present no- smoking program...

Hector City Council mulls budget itemsHECTOR -- Mayor John Riley presented the Hector City Council with drafts of proposed budgets for the city's general fund and street fund for their consideration before their December meeting. The general fund carryover was projected at $30,000, which Riley said was a conservative figure. Additional revenue from sales tax, municipal aid, and franchise fees was estimated at $98,221, providing a total of $128,221 in funds to draw from. The expens...

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BY STEVE LEAVELL
sleavell@cswnet.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Arkansas House to consider committee selection rulesLITTLE ROCK — The speaker of the Arkansas House says changes will be considered to the rules for selecting committee members. The comments come after Democrats secured 11 of the 20 seats on the House Revenue and Taxation Committee, despite being the minority party and losing seats in the Nov. 8 election. Committee assignments are currently based on seniority and Republican Speaker Jeremy Gillam of Judsonia did not offer a specific proposal for...